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Numbers 35

34 verses

TL;DR

Numbers 35 establishes the distribution of cities and suburbs to the Levites, designates six cities of refuge for manslayers, and outlines detailed procedures for judging accidental killings.

Summary

The chapter opens with the Lord instructing Moses to give the Levites a share of the Israelites’ cities and surrounding suburbs, providing specific measurements for the suburbs. It then establishes six cities of refuge—three on each side of the Jordan—where a manslayer may flee to avoid immediate retribution. The text explains that these cities serve all Israelites, foreigners, and sojourners, and it sets out a comprehensive legal framework: when a person is killed unintentionally, the perpetrator is protected in the city of refuge; if he violates the boundary, he is liable to death. The congregation’s judgment is to determine if the act was accidental or intentional, and witnesses are required—one witness cannot condemn a person. The law also forbids taking vengeance for a murderer’s life, condemns settling for the blood of a murderer, and stresses that the land is defiled by blood and must remain holy. These statutes are to be upheld for all generations.

Outline
  1. Distribution of cities and suburbs to the Levites
  2. Establishment of six cities of refuge and the rights of manslayers
  3. Judicial procedures and the sanctity of blood in the land
Themes
Justice and mercy in legal judgmentsSanctity of life and the holiness of the landThe role of Levites as caretakers of the community
Keywords
cities of refugemanslayerrevenger of bloodLevitessuburbsinheritancewitnesseshigh priestbloodsanctity of land
People
Mosesthe LORDLevitesIsraelite menmanslayerrevenger of bloodcongregationhigh priestwitnesses
Places
Plains of Moab by JordanJerichoJordanland of Canaancities of refugesuburbs
Things
cities of refugesuburbsinheritancehigh priest’s anointing oilbloodwitnesses
Key Verses
  • Numbers 35:6: Introduces six cities of refuge for accidental killers.
  • Numbers 35:12: Stresses that cities are for both Israelites and foreigners.
  • Numbers 35:24: Specifies the congregation’s role in judging accidental killings.
  • Numbers 35:30: Sets the law of witnesses, prohibiting a single witness from condemning someone.
  • Numbers 35:34: Emphasizes the land’s defilement by blood and the Lord’s dwelling.
Questions
  • How does the law balance mercy for accidental killings with justice for intentional murder?
  • What is the significance of including foreigners and sojourners among the beneficiaries of cities of refuge?
  • In what ways does the distribution of cities to the Levites reflect their role in Israelite society?
  • How does the prohibition against taking vengeance for a murderer’s life influence communal responsibility?
  • Why does the text emphasize the defilement of land by blood?
Sentiment

neutral
Legal instructions with no explicit emotional tone